The EARL of GALLOWAY regretted that legislation had been so long delayed on the subject, and had no doubt that great confusion had resulted from the want of some regulations. Oswestry, for Establishment of Local Courts.-By Sir R. H. Inglis, from Governors of Bartholomew's Hospital, against the Charitable Trusts Bill. ENCLOSURE ACTS. VISCOUNT CLIVE rose to put a question The EARL of WARWICK said, that to the right hon. Baronet the Secretary for great advantages would result from the the Home Department. There were at adoption of some definite gauge, and present a great number of cases ready to thought it would be very desirable to in-be inserted in the Supplementary Enclosure sert a clause in all Railway Bills compel- Bill; and he wished to know whether the ling companies to lay down their lines in a right hon. Baronet intended to bring forparticular manner. ward that Bill during the present Session. Those interested in the matter were extremely anxious that such a Bill should be brought forward. LORD HATHERTON said, the advantages of the broad gauge were so great that the public would eventually demand its extension. The EARL of CLARENDON said, although the minute of the Board of Trade did not establish the uniformity of gauge, it dealt with the subject in the best possible manner consistently with existing interests. He could not hold out any hope to the noble Lord opposite that he would endeavour to establish uniformity of gauge, and thought the best course would be to endeavour to disturb as little as possible the resolutions which had been proposed to their Lordships. Resolutions agreed to. HOUSE OF COMMONS, MINUTES.] NEW MEMBERS SWORN. For Edinburgh, William Gibson Craig, Esq.-For Edinburgh, Right Hon. Thomas Babington Macaulay.-For Richmond, Henry Rich, Esq. PUBLIC BILLS.-10. Burial Service; Prisons (Ireland); Fisheries (Ireland); District Lunatic Asylums (Ireland); Grand Jury Cess Bonds (Ireland); Mandamus (Ireland); Taxation of Costs (Compensations for Land) (Ireland); 3. and passed. Western Australia; New Zealand Loan. ral places, against the Union of the Sees of Saint Asaph and Bangor, but at the same time providing for the Immediate Appointment of a Bishop to the newly erected See of Manchester.-By Mr. G. Craig, from Royal Burghs of Scotland, against the Abolition of Religious Tests in the Scottish Universities. By Mr. Byng, from the Medway Union, for the Adoption of a Measure making the Landlords of Cottages where the Rents are under £6 liable to the Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures of the City of Edinburgh, and from Royal Burghs of Scotland, for the Adoption of Measures for securing an Adequate Sup the Poor Rates.-By Mr. Gibson Craig, from Members of ply of Sugar.-By Mr. William Williams, from Inhabitants of Coventry, praying the House not to sanction, by Votes of Money, or otherwise, any further Embarkation of Troops from the United Kingdom to Foreign or Colo nial Countries.-By Mr. Long, from Guardians of the Poor of the Bradford Union, for Repeal or Alteration of the Lunatics Act and Lunatic Asylums and Pauper Lunatics Act. By Mr. Christie, from Henry Le Messurier, and from Inhabitants and Residents of Guernsey, respecting A SIR G. GREY replied, that the General Enclosure Act provided that the Commissioners of Enclosures should present an annual report to Parliament, or rather that they should present an annual report to the Secretary of State, which it would be his duty to lay before Parliament. In that report the Commissioners were to state all cases of enclosure which they were prepared to recommend, and then the authority of Parliament must be taken before those recommendations could be carried into effect; and if Parliament approved of the enclosures recommended, they could be carried out under the general Act. report had been laid upon the Table of the House two months ago, and an Act was passed to authorize the enclosures recommended in that report. The report, however, included only a few months of the year; the period over which it extended commenced soon after the beginning of the Session of Parliament, and ended with the month of May. A Bill was passed in May, authorizing the seven cases of enclosure which that period embraced. A separate report had not since then been laid upon the Table of the House, but from private information which he received he was enabled to state that fifteen cases had since then come under the notice of the Commissioners; and, doubtless, they might make a special report on the subject. When that report was made, it would be his duty to consider what could advantageously be proposed during the present Session of Parliament. He doubted whether the general Act would allow him to bring in such a Bill as would meet the case. If numerous cases required it, and the Bill was supposed to be necessary, he should have no objection to take charge of it. The EARL of LINCOLN said, that he the Criminal Law of that Island.-By Mr. Gore, from had carried the general Bill through the EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE. House, and assured the right hon. Baronet that no such difficulty as he apprehended would be found to exist. TROOPS IN THE COLONIES. On the Motion that the House go into a Committee of Supply, MR. EWART rose to bring forward a Motion which he said he had produced in He had embodied several former years. his views in the four subsequent Resolutions: "1. That it is expedient that early and comprehensive measures be adopted for extending the Education of the People; and that a statement be the state and prospects of Education, every year, made by a responsible Minister of the Crown, on on going into the Education Estimates. "2. That it is expedient that the formation additional training schools for schoolmasters be encouraged. "3. That it is expedient to encourage the for mation of public libraries, freely open to the pub SIR DE L. EVANS said, that he had given notice of a Motion, of very great importance to the interests of the army. That Motion was upon the subject of the estimate for provisions for the troops serving in the Colonies. That Motion was to the effect that the estimate for provisions should be so framed that the troops serving in the Colonies should not be deprived of any advantage or allowance in regard to stop-of pages which might be enjoyed by the forces employed in the home territory of the United Kingdom. He had given no-lic, in large towns. tice of that Motion in consequence of a disturbance in one of our regiments in the Colonies, arising from the discontent of the men with regard to the system of provisions. Should the correspondence on that subject be produced, it would be found that the system required alteration; but he would not now press his Motion, as the War Secretary was so new in his office. He trusted, however, that the attention of the Government would be given to the subject. SIR H. DOUGLAS said, that as he was the colonel of the regiment in which the discontent had shown itself, he felt bound to say that the misconduct of the men had lasted but for a short time, and when fresh arangements had been made, they had returned properly to their duty. But certainly the system of making an aggregate estimate for the provisions in all the Colonies was a most objectionable system. The consequence of it was, that in certain Colonies the men were exposed to bad provisions; and it was no consolation to assure them that, in their turn, they would reach the Colonies which were better supplied. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said, that it was true that some unfortunate circumstance had occurred, as stated by the gallant Officer, but means had been taken to prevent the occurrence of similar discontent. With regard to the correspondence, he had inquired, and found that it could not properly be produced. As to the general system referred to by the gallant Members who had preceded him, he could say nothing but to assure them that the most earnest attention of the Government should be given to it. 4. That it is expedient that appointments to the subordinate offices of Government be made, amination of the respective qualifications of the as far as possible, on the principle of open excandidates." The hon. Member observed, that annual statements were made regarding the army, the navy, and the ordnance; and as the of the annual expenditure of the country, promotion of education now formed a part justice to the people required that an an nual statement should also be made on the state of general education, by a Minister of the Crown. This formed his first proposition. His next was, that training or normal schools for masters should be more liberally encouraged. The nation would never withhold an additional grant in the Estimates for what was now deemed so indispensable a purpose. His third Resolution referred to the institution, or encouragement, of public libraries. There were in this country no really public libraries, into which every one-rich or poor, native or foreigner-might freely enter. It was disgraceful to us that we had no such libraries here as existed in France, Italy, and Germany. The library of the British Museum was not unrestrictedly open like the libraries upon the Continent. In our only public library, conditions were annexed to admission. On the Continent, no questions were asked. The applicant for permission to read at the British Museum, must bring a recommendation from a Member of Parliament, or one of the Judges, or an eminent physician, or a clerk in a public office, or some other person equally illustrious or equally obscure. These conditions were a burden on science-a tax on literature. They ought to be abolished, and unrestricted freedom of admission re cognised. Lastly, he (Mr. Ewart) con- | nised. "The universality of primary intended, that candidates for admission into struction,' said M. Guizot, the French subordinate public offices ought to be sub- Minister of Education, in 1833, "is, in jected to a preliminary examination of their the eyes of the Government, one of the acquirements. At present, these situations greatest and most pressing_consequences were made mere subjects of political pa- of our charter." Why, in England, if we tronage and Parliamentary influence. But did not interfere with it, should we not in Prussia, nay, even in China, merit was watch over it should we not foster it, the recognised test of fitness. Why should should we not develope its growth? He it not be so in this country? Thus the cited examples to stimulate our energies, State would acknowledge the value of not to engage us in a servile imitation. In education, and infuse it into its own admi- France, by the project of M. Guizot, every nistrative system. On the subject of Edu- commune had its primary school; every cation generally, how little had been done commune with more than 6,000 inhabiof late years! It was now nearly thirty tants, its superior primary school; every years since Lord Brougham had turned department had a primary normal school. public attention towards it, when he made The masters were provided with a salary, his famous Motion respecting the grammar as well as a contribution from their scholars, schools and charitable institutions of the a residence, and a retiring salary, by means country. The Commission then appointed of a caisse d'epargne, or savings bank. had laboured for five-and-twenty years, On the importance of the profession of a and at length produced its result in an schoolmaster, he (Mr. Ewart) believed that ample Digest of four folio volumes. Since the House entertained but one opinion. Lord Brougham's movement, others had4 That profession was, in this country, at been made. Mr. Roebuck had proposed a once a noble and a neglected one. To Committee on National Education in 1833. whom were we more indebted than the Professors were examined, foreign and do- schoolmaster? Whom ought we more limestic; no specific result, however, fol- berally to requite? His duties and his aims lowed. True, the Government proposed were admirably described in that memoannual grants. 30,000l. a year for as-rable production, the letter of M. Guizot sisting in the building of school-houses, to the schoolmasters of France. were long a yearly record of Parliamentary were the words :indifference. The grant at length grew to "Doomed," he says of the teacher, "to see his 75,000l., and now magnified itself into life flow on in monotonous toil, sometimes even to 100,000. But this grant was not only encounter around him the injustice or the ingratiinadequate to its object, but discreditable tude of ignorance, he would be often saddened, or to the nation. Compare it with what had perhaps overcome, if he did not draw his strength and his courage from other sources than such as been done in foreign countries. Compare can be seen through the vista of direct and purely only Lancashire and Yorkshire, a popula-personal interest. A deep feeling of the moral tion of 3,300,000, with Switzerland, a po- importance of his labours should sustain and aniIt is his glory to pretend to pulation of only 2,300,000. In Switzer-mate him. nothing beyond his obscure and laborious condiland, there were thirteen normal schools, tion, to exhaust himself in sacrifices scarcely calof far superior appointment to most of culated by those who profit by them; to toil, in ours in Lancashire, there was only one. short, for man, and only to expect his France has seventy-six schools; we, only five deserving of the name. France has eighty-seven normal chief and one hundred and fourteen sub-inspectors; we only seven. Holland, too, had been maturing her system of education ever since the beginning of the century. Nay, he observed that even Turkey was now promoting the education of her people. He (Mr. Ewart) did not make these remarks that he might incite us to tread servilely in the footsteps of foreign nations. He wished for no undue interference by the State; but he wished for assistance, encouragement, and accountability. Let the public importance of education, at all events, be publicly recog from God." These recompense The public were much indebted to Mr. Kay, a Travelling Bachelor of the University of Cambridge, for his recent work on Continental Education. In it he (Mr. Ewart) found that in Austria, Bavaria, France, Hanover, Holland, Prussia, and Switzerland, the schoolmasters were honourably and independently supported, while their characters and acquirements were ascertained; but that it was quite the contrary in England. Had we no necessity for the schoolmaster? Our poor rates, as Mr. Kay truly stated, had increased. From about four millions in 1837, they were now nearly five millions. The 66 "To the schools in Switzerland," says Mr. Kay, "lands have been attached which are farmed and cultivated by the pupil teachers. On these lands, the pupil teachers and professors may be seen toiling in farmers' frocks, like peasants, rather than of young aspirants for the much-respected profession of a schoolmaster. The teacher is never allowed to forget that he is a peasant." The higher the instruction given him the "-cherish his sympathies for the humble class among whom he will be called to live. They are thus taught from their childhood to combine a high development of intellect and a great elevation of character, with the simplicity and drudgery of a peasant's occupation." poor would sink into the depths of habitual | tainments of the "training masters." But dependency. Outdoor relief was increas- why should we not make the teaching of ing. Probably, one million of our popula- our agricultural masters more practical? tion was becoming dependent on it. What In France, fifty-two schools have land atbetter resource than to teach them to think, tached to them for the purpose of instructto foresee, and to be independent? How ing the pupils in practical agriculture. can we do so except by education? Why perpetually adopt palliative, instead of preventive, measures? If we examined the valuable tables of Mr. Baines, and compared the proportion of scholars to the population in our manufacturing districts, we should find them far below the average on the Continent and in the United States. He (Mr. Ewart) feared that in the agricul-more important it is deemed to tural districts the state of ignorance was deeper and darker still. The Rev. Mr. Allen, one of the Government Inspectors, in his report for 1844, exhibited the condition of the schools in the counties of Bedford, Cambridge, and Huntingdon. Out of 123 parishes in Bedfordshire, there were 65 parishes "with no daily school, or a very bad one." In Cambridgeshire, out of 164 parishes, there were 57 "with no daily school, or a very bad one." In Huntingdonshire, out of 104 parishes, there were 49" with no daily school, or a very bad one." ." But if, turning from the quantity of education to its quality, we interrogated the reports of the Inspectors, we should not find the prospect brighter. Of the teachers themselves, says Mr. Watkins, "the spelling is frequently very incorrectperience, by one of our missionaries in the language is provincial and ungrammatical. They use a species of scholastic slang. I saw violent ebullitions of temper. In three schools there were notorious drunkards; in twenty-two the masters were incompetent." The Rev. Mr. Moseley, another Inspector, stated that go "Some hundreds of children, taken from the highest classes of our national schools, were incapable of telling the name of the country in which they lived. Many were ignorant who verns the country. They told me that the Queen of England was also Queen of France; that England was in Africa; and that to reach Scotland, you must cross the sea." In a national school described by the Rev. Mr. Bishop, of Oriel, "the question being passed from boy to boy whether any of them had been baptized, they all answered, No;' but when it was asked whether they had been christened, they unanimously answered, 'Yes.'" No won der that, such being the quality of education given, the reports of the Inspectors, Messrs. Allen, Cook, Bellairs, Watkins, and Moseley, coincided in stating the necessity of increasing the numbers and at Alas! could we say that we had yet such large and elevated views in England? Was it deemed that religion did not extend with extended education? Quite the contrary. Must not the enlarged mind fly more willingly towards its Creator? In France, says M. Guizot, in his already cited letter, "Partout où l'enseignement primaire a prospéré, une pensée religieuse s'est unie, dans ceux qui le répondent, au goût des lumières et de l'instruction." The cultivation of the mind was found, after long ex India, to be the most effectual means of developing Christianity in the soul. But from none of these systems abroad, so far as he (Mr. Ewart) understood, was religion banished. On the contrary, it was not only connected with, but infused into the sys tem. It was found in the French system. It was found in the Prussian system. Why should it not be found in ours? The public was eminently indebted to Dr. Hook for the treatise he had written on this difficult portion of the subject, as it also had been to the Rev. Baden Powell several years ago. The course recommended by these gentlemen was open to us. The Irish system, practised also successfully at Liverpool, was open to us: or we might combine the systems. At all events, we might approximate, and gradually prove that religion could unite where theology attempted to divide us; that Education was the ally, not the enemy, of Christianity. But he (Mr. Ewart) did not wish to impose, he wished to invite, coalition. It might be the work of time. But let the good, of all sides, not despair of it. At all events, there was one part of their educational | plunder, of the law, and devote them to system, connected with the past, which re- the education of the country. He would quired immediate attention. He meant the next turn to the system of education in existing state of those ancient English Scotland. He directed the attention of foundations, our grammar schools. Why the House to the character of the people might not these schools be made available of Scotland, and asked if some of their for modern purposes? The House was most eminent national virtues were not to acquainted with the results of Lord be traced to the system of parochial schools Brougham's Commission. The property introduced in 1696? By the memorable held by what were commonly called the Act of 1696, it was provided that there charitable trusts of this country, part of should be a school and a schoolmaster in which was attributable to education, was each parish. Nothing further, he believed, enormous. According to the Report of was done till 1803, when a pittance was the Commissioners, these charitable trusts added to the salary, and some new rules possessed in land more than 442,915 were made. The Statute of 1803 raised acres; in stock, 5,656,7461.; in mort- the schoolmasters' salaries from a maxigages, 1,011,7821.: total, 6,678,5281. mum of 11. 2s. 2d., and a minimum of The income was-from rent, 874,3137.; half that sum, to a maximum of 221. 4s. 5d., rent-charges, 79,930l.; interest, 255,1517.: and a minimum of 167. 13s. 4d. and gave total, 1,209,3941. Out of these, the income the schoolmaster a house and garden-the of the grammar schools was, 152,0471.; house not to contain more than two apartof schools not classical, 141,385l.; of cha- ments, including the kitchen-in the narities given for, or applied to education, tive Doric of Scotland, called "a but and 19,1127.: total, 312,544l. Now, was it a ben." The Statute of 1803 further made a great violation of the intentions of the a provision for two schoolmasters in a founders of these schools to divert their parish; but in this case the salary of both funds from legal litigation, and turn them was limited to 331. 6s. 7d. The second towards the education of the people? In master had no house or garden allowed to most, if not in nearly all instances, he be- him, and commonly received 107. or 127. lieved they would by so doing promote, a year. Formerly, the schoolmasters of rather than counteract, the intentions of Scotland were persons of greater consethe founders. Looking into the conditions quence than they now are, and were freon which these institutions were establish- quently educated at the universities. ed, he found many of them susceptible of 1824, they issued a statement of their modern improvement. Some of them were grievances, and asked that they might appointed for the "teaching of mathema- have a power of appealing to the higher tics and French."/ Many of the founders church courts, of which they were deprived are more general in their language, and by the Act of 1803, and also that their prescribed, "the teaching of grammar and houses might not be limited to two rooms other good learning;" others, " grammar if the heritors thought more were required. and other literature,' grammar and The heritors with the minister were the other godly learning;" others, again, "the judges of qualifications of the schoolmaster. Latin tongue and other more polite litera- It could not be said that they were always ture and science." Some prescribed, more unexceptionable judges. Probably an ingenerally, "virtue, learning, and man- fusion of other classes, as judges, would ners;" and some, more quaintly, gram- be beneficial. But in any extension of the mar and other virtues.' Now, he (Mr. system in Scotland, justice alike and the Ewart) thought that, when terms so com- circumstances of the country, forbade them prehensive as these were used, these an- to show any undue preference either to the cient foundations might be extended to Establishment or to any sect whatever. meet modern exigencies. Where they could Extend the system, if you like-it renot, the Legislature should interpose, as it quired extension and reform-but extend had already partly done, and extend the it fairly, and in conformity with the free limitations of the founder. A Bill giving state of opinion which now prevails in Scot powers to that effect had, he believed, land. From Scotland he turned his attenbeen rejected in the Lords; but an amend- tion to Ireland. He rejoiced in being able ed measure was the early and indispensa- to say that the national system of educable duty of the Government. Rescue these tion, suggested originally by his hon. Friend institutions at once from the evils of mis- the Member for Waterford (Mr. Wyse), and management, and the perils, or rather adopted by Lord Stanley, had proved most 66 or 66 In |